Guard for closed point-rails.



No. 806,863. PATENTED DEC. 12, 1905. F. C. ANDERSON. GUARD FOR CLOSED POINT RAILS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.13, 1905.

- Atto'r ne UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK C. ANDERSON, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO THE AMERICAN VALVE & METER COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

GUARD FOR CLOSED POINT-RAILS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 12, 1905.

To all whom it mag concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK C. ANDERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cin cinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Guards for Closed Point- Rails, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates particularly to guards for locking closed point-rails, especially on tracks where high speed is maintained, and for use in connection with interlocking pointrails and safety operating mechanism.

The present form of switch-operating mechanism for locking closed point-rails permits the closed point-rail to be locked open because of lost motion in the switch-operating mechanism, because of accidental disconnection of the switch-stand from the switch connection, or because of some obstruction-such as snow, ice, or other small objectbetween the closed point-rail and its adjacent stock-rail, thus permitting the flange of the wheel to enter the opening between said rails and cause a derailment.

The object of my invention is to provide means for guarding and protecting the closed point-rails of railway-switches against being thus locked in open position and also from being opened by wedges or other objects being forced between the end of the point-rail and the web of the adjacent stock-rail when the point-rail is locked in closed position and to provide means for eflicient safety looking or interlocking of the point-rail.

My invention consists of a plate adapted'to be secured to the web or reinforcement of a point-rail and project in front of the end of the point-rail and against the web and beneath the ball of the adjacent rail, thereby forming a guard for the end of the point-rail and a bearing-surface for interlocks or other safetylocks. 4

My invention also consists inv the construction and arrangement set forth and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view showing my invention applied to a reinforced point-rail, the point-rail being in open position. Fig. 2 is a similar View of a point-rail in closed position. of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section on the line m w of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of my guard adapted to be used either without or Fig. 3 is a side elevation separate from the reinforcement. Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing my guard formed integral with the reinforcement for a pointrail. Fig. 7 is a plan view of a point-rail having the guard shown in Fig. 6 applied. Fig. 8 is a cross-section of a track, showing my guard applied to both point-rails, each connected to the interlocking rod. Fig. 9 is a plan view of the closed point-rail shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 9.

My improved guard is preferably constructed substantially as follows: The guard 1 r 1 is formed substantially as shown in Figs. and 6, respectively, and comprises a flat plate having a compound bend or curve 2 and is provided with holes 3, through which said plate is attached to the point-rail 4. When applied to the point-rail, the curved portion forms a guard extending across the end of the point-rail, closing the opening between its end and the adjacent stock-rail, and prevents prying or wedging of the point-rail away from the adjacent. stock-rail 5.

When my guard is applied to point-rails now in use, it is secured in place as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4:; but for new point-rails I prefer to employ the guard l, as shown in Fig. 7 formed integral with the reinforcement, which is secured to the point=rail.

In Figs. 8, 9, and 10 I have shown a modified construction of my guard for locking point-rails which is especially adapted for use in connection with a safety lock or interlock wherein the keeper 6 is made fast to the guard 1 and moves with it. In this construction the guard l is bent to form a recess 7 to receive heads of bolts for attaching the keeper 6. The interlocking rod 8 is secured to the keeper 6, whereby both point-rails are locked in fixed position at both sides of thetrack, as shown in Fig. 8.

It will be seen that my guard forms an effective device for use in connection with interlocking mechanism, the keeper being at tached to or adapted to bear against said guard, whereby it is held against the web of the adjacent stock-rail. By this means of looking,

with the guard bearing against the web of the adjacent stock-rail, the switch operator will detect any obstruction between the point-rail and stock-rail which would prevent the lock- Fig. 10 is a section on the line 2 z of t safety-locks Without being attached to the ing of a safety locking-bar or interlocking bar, and thus avoid damage which would otherwise result. My guard being secured to the end of the point-rail and projecting against the web and beneath the ball of the adjacent stock-rail secures the point-rail from being lifted or torn from the locking mechanism, so that if the switch-rods should become engaged by any equipment of a passing train it would be impossible to open the closed point-rail on account of the guardbeing so secured;

When my guard is used in connection with locking-bar, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it forms an extended bearing for the keeper bearing against it and permits creeping of the pointrail without interfering in any way with the perfect operation of the safety or interlocking mechanism, such as shown in my Patent No. 770,949.

It will be apparent that my invention is capable of some modification without departure from the scope and spirit of the invention as, for instance, the particular location of applying the guard to the rail is immaterial, as it may be secured to either side of the web of the point-rail and the free or projecting end formed in such shape as to bear against the adjacent rail.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patient, is

1. A guard secured to a point-rail and adapted to project in front thereof and bear against the web of the adjacent stock-rail.

2. A guard for a closed point-rail comprising a plate secured to the free end of a closed point-rail and extending across said end whereby said guard is adapted to bear against the Web of the adjacent rail when said point-rail is in closed position.

3. A guard for a closed point-rail comprising a plate having a bend between its ends and so attached to said point-rail that the part forming the bond will extend in front of the end of said point-rail and form a guard therefor whereby the openingbetween said pointrail and the web of the adjacent stock-rail is closed.

4. In aguard for a closed point-rail, a plate having a bend between its ends and formed integral with a reinforcement for a point-rail, and adapted to be secured thereto.

5. A guard secured to a closed point-rail and adapted to project in front thereof and bear against the web of the adjacent stock-rail and having an extended bearing-surface adapted to engage a keeper upon safety or interlocking mechanism and thereby permit of creeping of the point-rail.

6. A guard secured to a point-rail and adapted to project beyond the free end thereof and bear against the web of the adjacent stock-rail.

7. A guard secured to the free end of a pointrail and adapted to close the opening between the end of said point-rail and the web of the adjacent stock-rail.

8. A guard for a closed point-rail comprising a plate having a bend therein to cause said plate to engage with the adjacent rail, and a bend to form a recess for bolt-heads substantially and for the purposes set forth.

FRANK O. ANDERSON.

Witnesses:

JAMES N. RAMSEY,

CLARENCE L. PERDEW. 

